Foreign Ministry explains border dispute to ASEAN envoys

BANGKOK, Oct 15 (TNA) – The Thai Foreign Ministry met ambassadors of eight Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members to meet to explain the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Veerasak Futrakul announced on Tuesday. However, the Philippine envoy failed to attend the meeting. Mr. Veerasak said he told the envoys of the border clash between Thailand and Cambodia on October 3 and of the Thai troops stepping on mines while patrolling. He pointed out the dispute area should have been free of landmines because they had been cleared earlier. The Thai officials had entered the area to examination and found new mines of a variety never previously used in Thailand had been laid. Thailand believes Cambodia laid the landmines following the October 3 border clash. Such action violates the Ottawa Convention to which both Cambodia and Thailand are signatories. Mr. Veerasak also expressed bewilderment at Cambodian Prime Minister Somdej Hun Sen's ultimatum for the withdrawal of Thai troops from the disputed areas because the Cambodia leader had previously supported bilateral efforts to solve the dispute. However, he affirmed Thailand would attempt to protect and maintain its sovereignty to the utmost of its ability.(TNA)